Beware of Tesco iphone pay as you go deal

dontletthemawaywithit

I recently looked into buying an iphone on pay as you go. Having heard about the Tesco pay as you go deal here, I looked into the details via the tesco website, and it seemed very impressive - good deal on the phone, free internet access for 12 months, low cost calls (especially to 5 favourite numbers).

However, when I went to the store to purchase the phone, I was told that there was an extra £20 set-up fee, and a £2 per week charge for the "free" internet access. So their advertising which uses precisely the same wording regarding internet access for the pay-as-you-go and contract options is in fact incorrect and misleading.

Obviously, I'll be reporting Tesco to the ASA for false advertising but thought others might want to save some hassle and go straight to the nearest Apple store for their phones (as I subsequently did).

steven100_2

Thanks for the info, i have been looking at the Tesco deal too, was going to go for the PAYG one for 16gb 3gs, all the wording I've seen suggests that the 15 or 20 pound monthly top up gets trebled, 5 fav numbers and 12 moths unlimited web & WiFi (same as the pay monthly deal) .... nothing about 'extras', unless they hide it in their .... Full terms/prices at tescomobile.com (sorry no link, apparently as a new boy i'm not allowed to use links !!!!!!!!!!!!!) I'll now be asking those Q's when I go down to Tesco.:money:

steven100_2

Ok, have just called Tesco, and they confirmed that the unlimited web and wifi on the payg is NOT the same as that on the pm contract!. On the payg, it is 440 for the iphone (16gb 3gs) and 15 or 20 top up (which they treble) but to get the unlimited web and wifi you have to top up by 30/month!!!. Looks like I may go for the 12 month contract, 320 for the 16gb 3gs as this is 20/month, and you get the unlimited web and wifi (for the 12 months) along with 60 of credit for each month (which equates, apparently, to 1200 mins OR 600 txts?) and the 5 fav (1/2 price - 10p/min - 5p/txt) numbers deal (which works for both mobile and landline numbers). You are correct that the differential between payg and pm for unlimited web and wifi is not clear in the tesco literature, and i think that is a frequent recurring revelation to peeps enquiring about the payg deal. Will look at the Apple store, but if they cannot beat the tesco price for 12 month contract, then think i will be going to tesco tomorrow.

sullrx

Just to correct the above information - when you get the Iphone on tesco mobile - either PAYG or pay monthly - there is no extra charge for the unlimited web and wifi data for the first year - it is NOT £2 a week on top. Also the £20 charge is not a setup charge - it is your first months bill if you are on the £20 a month contract. I checked both with the store where I bought mine and customer services.

dontletthemawaywithit

Very strange - this completely contradicts what I was told in my local Tesco store. Given that they should have been trying to get me as a customer, it's very surprising that even when pressed to confirm all the details they told me completely the wrong information.

Anyway, I'm now a happy PAYG O2 customer - and the iPhone is great!

SmilingPete

dontletthemawaywithit wrote: »

Very strange - this completely contradicts what I was told in my local Tesco store. Given that they should have been trying to get me as a customer, it's very surprising that even when pressed to confirm all the details they told me completely the wrong information.

Anyway, I'm now a happy PAYG O2 customer - and the iPhone is great!

I can confirm that Tesco PAYG iphone does include free mobile data. What's more, i am now well into my 13th month and it still works:-)

Does anyone know how long the free web and wifi will continue? Maybe indefinitely?? Here's hoping.

Regards

Peter